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Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Genres: Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #1

1958 was a tumultuous year for blonde-tressed rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis. Recording for Sam Phillips? legendary Sun Records in Memphis, the pumping piano man was riding high off two monster hits and began the ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Jerry Lee Lewis
Title: Jerry Lee Lewis
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Varese Sarabande
Release Date: 9/14/2004
Genres: Pop, Rock
Styles: Oldies, Oldies & Retro
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
Other Editions: Jerry Lee Lewis
UPC: 030206660227

Synopsis

Album Description
1958 was a tumultuous year for blonde-tressed rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis. Recording for Sam Phillips? legendary Sun Records in Memphis, the pumping piano man was riding high off two monster hits and began the year with another one. And he made his first album for Sun, an eponymous affair combining recent triumphs (his debut "Crazy Arms" and latest smash "High School Confidential"), a hot version of Jack Clement?s "It?ll Be Me" that was different from the single version, and romping covers of Warren Smith?s "Ubangi Stomp," Carl Perkins? "Matchbox," and Elvis? "Don?t Be Cruel." This long-overdue digital reincarnation of that seminal set also features the entirety of Jerry Lee?s first EP The Great Ball of Fire, which encompassed his immortal "Whole Lotta Shakin? Going On" and "I?m Feeling Sorry," and two more bonus tracks, "Down The Line" and his early ?58 hit "Breathless." As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of rock and roll, few albums from rock and roll?s early days resonate so historically ? or rock so hard ? as this one does.

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CD Reviews

Brilliant '58 debut + additional EP
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 12/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"By the time of Lewis' album debut in 1958, he was well established as one of Rock 'n' Roll's original wild men. Hits like "Great Balls of Fire" and "Breathless" showed him to be a formidable piano player, a mesmerizing singer and a magnetic showman. His first long player collected a dozen sides, starting with a 1956 cover of Ray Price's "Crazy Arms" that was waxed in Lewis' audition session for Sun, and extending into 1958.



Lewis is authoritative on tracks he originated, such as the blazing "High School Confidential," as well as a series of covers. It's a testament to Lewis' iconic style that he can cover Elvis ("Don't Be Cruel"), Hank Williams ("Jambalaya"), Carl Perkins ("Matchbox") and Warren Smith ("Ubangi Stomp"), and barely give a hint of the originals. Lewis owned everything that rolled off his piano - even the trad "When the Saints Go Marching In" sounds like an original.



Varese's reissue augments the original album with a half-dozen cuts from the EP "The Great Ball of Fire." In addition to the signature hits "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" (a first take!) and "Breathless," he races up and down the keys for "Mean Woman Blues" and reworks Roy Orbison's "Go! Go! Go!" as "Down the Line."



Whether striking up the 88s or taking it down-tempo for a country tearjerker like "It All Depends (On Who Will Buy the Wine)," Lewis always sounded original. The breadth of material that Sun founder Sam Phillips picked makes this a fine single-disc overview of Lewis' seminal years at the label."
Great album from a classic artist
S. Curnow | Central, NJ | 02/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Glad to see this available on CD. I have the original Sun LP and its a joy to listen to it on both the original lp and on cd :) The music sounds great no matter what you're listening to it on, but for me vinyl is always the best :)"